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ALAS (Advancing Latino/a/e/xs at Southern)

Mission Statement

ALAS (Advancing Latino/a/e/xs at Southern) is a committee comprised of members from the SCSU staff, faculty, and administration committed to identifying, assisting, and implementing best practices to increase the success of Latino/a/e/x students in the areas of access to higher education, retention, and timely degree completion.

Email: alas@southernct.edu

History of ALAS

The committee’s name is new to campus since 2022, but the work of the committee stems from the Latino and Native American Student Advancement Committee (LANAAC), which in 2012-2013 conducted a study on assessing university support of Latino/x/e and Native American students.

Members

  • Katie De Oliveira, Co-chair
  • Esteban García, Co-chair
  • Sobeira Latorre, Co-chair
  • Gladys Labas 
  • Trudy Milburn
  • Nilvio Perez
  • Stephanie Perez
  • Leilanne Quintana
  • Loida Reyes
  • Carlos Torre
  • Daisy Torres-Baez
  • Melanie Uribe
  • Past members: Diane Ariza, Dian Brown-Albert

Servingness at Southern

Southern Connecticut State University is an emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution (eHSI). The term eHSI was coined by Excelencia in Education to track institutions that will soon become an HSI. Emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions are public and private institutions with a Hispanic* undergraduate full-time equivalent enrollment of 15-24.9%. Hispanic-Serving Institutions as defined by federal legislation are public or private higher education institutions with 25% or more undergraduate Hispanic full-time equivalent student enrollment. The application for eligibility has a specific formula for determining Hispanic enrollment. In Spring 2025, the Department of Education confirmed Southern’s fall 2022 Hispanic undergraduate full-time equivalent enrollment was 24.7%.

ALAS has been committed to supporting students since its inception. Since hosting Journey to Servingness in 2024, ALAS has focused on intentionally creating a culture of Servingness across departments. At Southern, Servingness framework is being developed and there's current focus on 1) better understanding the needs of students and effective ways to support students, and 2) fostering a welcoming and supportive environment for students and their families.